Singer- songwriter Jeff Bates will perform at “Building Hope for Paws,” a fundraising dinner and concert for the Levy County Humane Society, at Usher Community Center on Thursday, Oct. 4. The event begins at 6 p.m. With dinner served at 6:30 p.m.

Proceeds of the event will go to an adoption and educational facility. Seating is limited. Advance tickets can be purchased on line at www.humanesocietyoflevycounty.com. Tickets are available at: Bronson Ace Hardware, 403 Hathaway Ave., Bronson, and Chiefland Hardware and Farm Supply, 215 E. Rogers Blvd. Admission prices are $30 per person general admission, VIP is $60 and includes a meet and greet with Bates. All tickets include dinner. The menu includes baked ziti, garden salad, dinner rolls, tea and brownies.

Born and raised in Bunker Hill, Miss., Bates signed with RCA Records Nashville in 2003, releasing his debut single, “The Love Song.” He is known for songs like “I Wanna Make You Cry” and “Long, Slow Kisses.” Bates is working on an album simply titled “Me and Conway,” which will feature a duet with Conway Twitty.

The Hidden Coast Paddling Festival, Oct. 5-7, is an opportunity to explore the world-class paddling and wildlife viewing opportunities the Hidden Coast offers along Florida’s Big Bend’s waterways, trails, and slow-paced back roads. The tour celebrates the diversity of paddling with rivers, fresh and salt creeks, tiny deserted islands, amazing freshwater experiences and saltwater paddling in the placid Gulf of Mexico waters. All activities this year are in the Suwannee River National Wildlife Refuge and are centered around the town of Suwannee.

The Hidden Coast Paddling Festival in October offer 10 free guided trips to sample the world-class paddling trails around the Suwannee River. All trips are limited to 6-10 paddlers and fill up fast.

For information on the paddles and where to pre-register, visit www.hiddencoast.net/hcpf-docs/2012-Schedule-of-Guided-Paddles.pdf

Pre-registration can earn discounts in the area such as accommodations and a free lunch cooler to the first 100 registrants who check in at the Community Center on Friday (must be registered online).

October 10

Veteran job fair

There will be a job fair for veteran job seekers on Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon at the American Legion Post 57 in Lake City.

The event will be a one-of-a-kind hiring fair for both employers and jobseekers. It is open to all veterans, active duty military members, Guard and Reserve member as well as military spouses.

American Legion Post 57 is located at 2602 SW Main Blvd., Lake City.

Veteran job seekers can register for free at HOH.Greatjobs.net. Questions should be directed to: hiringourheroes@uschamber.com.

October 13

Haven event

celebrates “Fall on the Prairie”

“Fall on the Prairie,” a night of scrumptious food, live music, silent and live auction and so much more will be sponsored by Haven Hospice at Whitehurst Ranch & Prairie in Williston. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $75 per person and sponsorship and auction donation opportunities are available. For more information, call Stephanie Brod, 352-271-4665 or email at smbrod@havenhospice.org.

October 15

Signup now for Seafood Festival Parade

The Lions Club will sponsor the Cedar Key Seafood Festival Parade beginning on Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. The parade will feature bikes, floats, prizes and bands. There will also be prizes for the best-decorated float, car, golf cart, bike and vehicle.

The event begins on G Street, continues around Dock Street and finishes at the City Park Gazebo.

Registration is free and the deadline is Oct. 15. To register, drop off a parade form to Parade Marshall Pam Oakley at 12416 SR 24. For more information, contact Oakley at pmpakley@bellsouth.net or fax (404) 921-224.

October 16

Deadline for Community Art Show

November at the Cedar Key Arts Center is an Open Community Show and the deadline is Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. The show is titled “Seeing Christie’s Mission: Variable ~ Visual ~ Variety”. The group is looking for pieces that inspire and have visual impact. All media welcome for this fun kick-off to the season. You will find registration forms on the CKAC website under “Gallery”. Join the first opening on Nov. 3, from 4 – 6 p.m.. It is open to the public and refreshments will be served

October 20

Seventh Annual Ride to Provide

The seventh annual motorcycle fundraiser, Ride to Provide, will be held on Oct. 20, at Bronson High School. On-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with free coffee and doughnuts. Kickstands up at 10 a.m. Participants are encouraged to pre-register online at www.ridetoprovide.net. This Law Enforcement escorted ride is approximately 64 miles in length and will travel through scenic Levy County. This ride is free of cost but donations are greatly appreciated. Riders will have another opportunity to support Levy ARC by purchasing a hamburger/hotdog plate at the end of the ride. All proceeds from this event directly support the Levy Association for Retarded Citizens. T-Shirts will be available the day of the ride.

For more information or to help sponsor this event please contact Sean or Beth Mullins at 352-316-3260 or 352-528-2222.

Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Trail Ride

The Levy County Horse Club sponsors the 12th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Trail Ride at Tidewater Trailhead in the Goethe State Forest on Saturday, Oct. 20. It begins at the south end of County Road 337 with registration beginning at 8 a.m. for a $25 fee per rider for the poker ride. Ride at your own pace. Lunch is free with registration, or available for $6. The menu includes choice of barbecue or lemon pepper pork with green beans and potatoes, whole kernel corn, rolls, dessert and a drink. Lunch will be followed by fun raffles.

Overnight primitive camping is available for those coming in on Friday or staying over til Sunday. Water for horses and bathroom facilities are available. This is a no hunting weekend with trail use and camp fees waived for this benefit event. Coggins required. All donations go to benefit local breast cancer patients.

To donate or help sponsor this event or more information please check our web page at www. levycountyhorseclub.com or email levy2@flahorse.com.

October 20 - 21

Seafood Festival

The 43rd Annual Seafood Festival in Cedar Key will be held in the historic downtown and City Park. Great food and entertainment in the Park and art lines the streets of Cedar Key. Funds raised by various groups go to support charitable projects and Cedar Key School.

October 31

Book Bunch to meet

The Non-Fiction Book Bunch will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 1:30 p.m. at the Cedar Key Library. Some of us have read Cornell University’s “Legacy Project Thirty Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans” over the summer. If you have read it, great; if not, great.

We will meet and decide upon the next months’ readings. Please, bring suggestions with you. Proposed thus far are: S.C. Gwynne’s “Empire of the Summer Moon”; Manning Marable’s “Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention”; and Candice Millard’s “River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey”.